MyReporter -- What is Brian Berger's day job?

Published: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 7:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 7:31 p.m.

Q: What does Brian Berger do for a living?

A: In a Dec. 11 interview, New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger said he is working as a freelance writer. He did not indicate which publications he was freelancing for at this time. He also said he volunteers his time to help edit papers for international students at UNCW.

As a commissioner, Berger earns a salary of $16,446 annually. He is also eligible for standard county benefits, including health insurance.

– Ashley Withers

Q: Do New Hanover County or the city of Wilmington require you to recycle?

A: Recycling is not mandatory within New Hanover County, said Joe Suleyman, the county's environmental management director. Though he added that the state bans certain materials from being placed in landfills, including aluminum cans, plastic bottles, yard waste, used oil, lead-acid batteries and appliances that contain Freon.

Suleyman said local haulers may refuse to take a resident's trash if it is obvious their container is full of prohibited materials. Haulers may be fined for dumping the materials in the landfill, or the load could be rejected.

Within the city of Wilmington, residential recycling is voluntary, said Richard King, the public services director

Residential customers in the city are required to get trash/recycling service through the city unless private haulers offer services the city doesn't, King said. For example, Landfall uses private haulers who offer backdoor service, meaning they walk to the back of the houses to retrieve the trash. Some large apartment complexes also opt to use private haulers who offer dumpster service, which the city does not offer.

<p class="bold allcaps">Q: What does Brian Berger do for a living?</p>
<p>A: In a Dec. 11 interview, New Hanover County Commissioner <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9976"><b>Brian Berger</b></a> said he is working as a freelance writer. He did not indicate which publications he was freelancing for at this time. He also said he volunteers his time to help edit papers for international students at <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a>.</p><p>As a commissioner, Berger earns a salary of $16,446 annually. He is also eligible for standard county benefits, including health insurance.</p><p><i>– Ashley Withers</i></p><h3>Q: Do New Hanover County or the city of Wilmington require you to recycle?</h3>
<p>A: Recycling is not mandatory within New Hanover County, said Joe Suleyman, the county's environmental management director. Though he added that the state bans certain materials from being placed in landfills, including aluminum cans, plastic bottles, yard waste, used oil, lead-acid batteries and appliances that contain Freon.</p><p>Suleyman said local haulers may refuse to take a resident's trash if it is obvious their container is full of prohibited materials. Haulers may be fined for dumping the materials in the landfill, or the load could be rejected.</p><p>Within the city of Wilmington, residential recycling is voluntary, said Richard King, the public services director</p><p>Residential customers in the city are required to get trash/recycling service through the city unless private haulers offer services the city doesn't, King said. For example, Landfall uses private haulers who offer backdoor service, meaning they walk to the back of the houses to retrieve the trash. Some large apartment complexes also opt to use private haulers who offer dumpster service, which the city does not offer.</p><p><i>– Julian March</i></p>